Improvement in invalid-chairs



w. su-acn;

Invalid-Chair.

No 161,748. Patented priI6,-1875.

STATES WILLIAM BURCH, OF AUSTINBURG, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN INVALID=CHAIRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 161,748, dated April 6, 1875; application filed October 24, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BURCH, of Austinburg, in the county of Ashtabula and State of Ohio, have invented certain Improvements in Combined Bedsteads and-Chairs, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to provide, for the use of invalids, a bed which may be readily changed to form a comfortable armchair without incommoding the occupant. My invention accordingly consists in the construction and combination of parts pertaining to a bed which has its main frame made in three jointed sections, constituting, when the article is used as a chair, the back, seat, and front support, respectively.

The parts or features embodying my improvements have reference particularly to the provision of arms, which, when the article is employed in its respective capacities, form chair-arms or braces for the legs supporting the head secondly, the provision of a lever for moving the sections, and a pawl and ratchet for holding them at any desired angle or inclination.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A designates the main frame of the combined bed and chair, composed of the middle and stationary section B and the foot and head sections 0 D, the latter being hinged to the former at the inner ends, as shown at a a, so that while the middle section remains in a horizontal position the parts 0 D may, respectively, be raised and lowered in relation thereto, as shown in Fig. l. b b are arms projecting forward from the inner ends of the sections 0 D, and b is a bar or lever jointed to and coupling said arms. When the head-see tion is raised, motion is communicated through the bar I) to the footsection, which is thereby lowered, constituting a support for the front of the seat. E is the foot-board, and E E the legs supporting the foot of the bed, and holding between them the foot-board. The legs E E are hinged to the section D, so that previous to the lowering of said section they may be pushed back, so as to not interfere with the movement of the parts. The footboard constitutes a foot-rest to the chair. F designates the head-board, supported by the head-legs F F, which are jointed to the section 0. G are slots in the sides of the section 0, in which said legs fit snugly when the section is raised to form the chair-back. G G are bars jointed together and, respectively, to

the legs F, and to the sides of the section B,

slots being out in the frame for the reception of the bars G When the section O is raised, the bars G G are raised and folded automatically to form the chair and arms, shown in Figure 1; but when said section is lowered, they constitute very neat and effective braces, and are entirely out of the way.

H represents a lever attached to the journal or end of the joint-bar of section O, and used for the purpose of conveniently operatin g the movable parts. I is a ratchet, attached also to said journal and I, a pawl engaging with said ratchet, so as to retain the back and foot of the chair at any desired inclination. The sections 0 D may be slatted. The section 13 has an even surface or seat, and is formed with an opening, B, for the private use of the occupant. Said opening, when not in use, is closed by means of a swinging lid, K, secured by a button on the under side of the seat. L represents inclined legs secured to the section B, and supporting the principal Weight of the bed and chair.

Having fully described my invention, I claim 1. In combination with a reclining-chair having a rigid seat, and a hinged back and foot section, connected through the lever b", the lever H, ratchet I, and pawl 1, arranged at one side, as shown, said lever H being attached to the hinge-pintle connecting section 0 and lever 12 as and for the purpose described.

2. The jointed legs F, in combination with the jointed sections 0 D and jointed braces G substantially as described and shown.

3. The combined arms and leg-braces G G and supplementary legs F, in combination with the folding bed and chair frame A, substantially as shown and described.

WILLIAM BURCH.

Witnesses:

ALEX. OOOHRANE, I. R. PRENTISS. 

